Chapter 2

I wandered through the streets as memories from years ago resurfaced.

Rachel had cried herself unconscious in my arms when the Mead family's capital chain broke back then. I actually kneeled in front of Mom and Dad for three whole days for her sake, until my knees were a bloody mess, just to secure that life-saving capital injection.

I was 20 years old when I stormed in alone to rescue her when she was abducted by a rival family. I took a bullet through the chest and nearly lost my life then.

I was 25 years old when she suddenly got drugged in a bar. I rushed to her side, with steel still fixed inside my body, and was beaten until my spleen ruptured, surviving two emergency resuscitations.

I was 30 years old when she was trapped beneath an avalanche. I dug through the snow until dawn, and when she was finally dragged out, my entire body was frozen stiff, and the hospital issued critical condition notices five times. I never thought that one day she would become like this.

Just at that moment, I glanced up and saw Quentin's interview broadcasting across a massive skyscraper billboard.

He was being hailed as the Innovator of the Year and an Industry Disruptor, with the host exclaiming, "Mr. Sorenson led his team to break through these technical barriers in just six months—a true role model for the younger generation!"

I froze in my tracks, the blood draining from my face. I was the one who led the team for a year, pulling all-nighters, testing, failing, and starting over to build that core data. Rachel had actually handed all the credit to Quentin while I was completely occupied with planning our wedding.

I clenched my fist in anger when my phone suddenly rang. I answered the video call and caught Quentin straddling Rachel, thrusting continuously.

Quentin's voice was filled with lust while asking, "Is Charlie going to be mad if he finds out about us, Rach? What if he actually wants a divorce? We're out of condoms, too. What if you suddenly get pregnant, Rach?"

Rachel panted seductively, cutting him off. "What are you afraid of? Charlie is just putting on an act to scare me! He loves me too much to ever actually divorce me. I'll just give birth to the child if I really get pregnant. He'll get to be a father without doing any of the work—he'll probably be thrilled."

That disgusting scene suddenly drained all the strength from my body, making my stomach churn. Quentin deliberately panned the camera to show the decor of our wedding suite, his eyes filled with blatant provocation.

I gripped my phone until my knuckles went white. I had personally designed every inch of that wedding suite just to make sure Rachel's first night was perfect, only to find out I had done all that work just for them to enjoy it.

I suppressed my churning emotions and scoffed. "You seem pretty occupied, but you still had time to give me a live show, Rachel."

Upon hearing my voice, Rachel went completely frigid. She hurriedly shoved Quentin off her, snatched the phone, and glared at me. "What the hell is wrong with you, Charlie? Why did you suddenly video call me?"

I scoffed in disbelief. "I have absolutely no interest in watching a live show—your darling assistant was the one who called me."

Rachel froze, glancing at Quentin with a hint of doubt. She immediately took his side when she noticed Quentin lowered his head in grievance.

She turned back and snapped at me, "You'd better stop your act this instant, Charlie! You're the one at fault here! You wouldn't even buy condoms when I asked you to yesterday, so Quentin was just trying to get back at you for me! I'm not married yet, so I can give my first time to whoever I want!"

I calmly cut her off, saying, "You're absolutely right. Your body, your choice. You can give your virginity to anyone you please, and I have no right to complain. I also have autonomy over my own choices, though; if I want a divorce, I will get one. You have no right to control that, Rachel."

Rachel's face went completely pale. She quickly regained her composure, her voice dripping with contempt while saying, "You ought to remember that our engagement was decided by both of our grandfathers, Charlie. You're all alone now, so the entire Lund Group relies on my family to keep it afloat!"

She toned it down slightly after noticing my silence, saying, "I won't hold it against you that you walked out yesterday as long as you don't make things difficult for Quentin from now on, Charlie."

I found it utterly absurd upon hearing her dismiss my sacrifices as dependency and justify her own betrayal; all my past care and indulgence had somehow become the leverage she used to threaten me.

Quentin actively mocked me, while Rachel self-righteously blackmailed me. They were truly a perfect match for each other.

I met her gaze calmly, showing no emotion. "It's completely over between us, Rachel."